The life and love of Anton P. Chekhov at the crucial point when Чайка (Seagull) is to be premiered in St. Petersburg. The French and sometimes Russian title points the relation with Lika Mizinova, inspiration for the main character of the play.Read More »
From Senses of Cinema:
Istoriya Asi Klyachinoy, kotoraya lyubila, da ne vyshla zamuzh (Asya’s Happiness) is a seminal film, a film that suffered numerous title changes and edits by edict. It is a rediscovered classic that was shelved for 20 years and now stands as a testament to the paranoid absurdity of Soviet censorship. It is a film that provided a powerful start for some careers and stunted others. With its natural lightness and exploration of femininity it broke the genre of the collective farm-worker movie and introduced a deeply Russian neo-realism that celebrated the rural, spiritual environment through stunning black-and-white cinematography and breathtakingly authentic performances by non-professional actors that captured the sounds, stories and pace of life in the village of Bezvodnoye. Read More »
A man gets fired from his cooshie government job. He thinks its the end of the world but slowly finds things to live for. Nominated for Oscar in the foreign language movie category.Read More »
Based on the short story “A Gentle Being” by Dostoievski.
“St. Petersburg. The capital. Hardly any other place could influence a man’s soul in such dark, harsh and mysterious ways … like St. Petersburg does it. Now, see for yourselves what is happening in those big black dusky houses of St. Petersburg. Look closer. And see for yourselves – what kind of life this is.”
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